Tuesday, May 24, 2016

COMaP is the most comprehensive map of protected lands in the state. CNHP is proud to announce the newly revised version of COMaP. The new COMaP, version 10, has significantly updated federal and state lands (which make up almost half of the state) and an additional 355,000 acres of lands conserved under easements, compared to version 9. It also contains interactive maps that can be used to explore and download data without GIS software.

The ongoing updates and services to this database will be supported with subscriptions. If you’re interested in a subscription, visit the COMaP website for more details. Consider subscribing for these benefits:

Access to the latest protected lands data through an online map

Ability to use the interactive map to view and identify protected lands, query the map and download spreadsheets, overlay your own files (kml or shp) or add comments and draw polygons. This is especially useful for non-GIS users

Access to a suite of data files from the data download center

Ability to download the geodatabase and layer files to perform geospatial analysis, build your own custom maps, or serve COMaP map service from your website. This is especially useful for GIS users.

Friday, May 13, 2016

You might remember that a few years back CNHP developed a novel collaboration with Odell Brewing Company to conserve the hops blue butterfly (Celastrina humulus). The hops blue butterfly is a rare butterfly in Colorado whose host plant is wild hops (Humulus lupulus). The fruition of that collaboration was Celastrina Saison (pictured below), which produced a $1/bottle donation from Odell Brewing Company to fund studies of the hops blue butterfly.
Our friend Jason Bulluck at the Virginia Natural Heritage Program (VNHP) liked the idea of partnering with breweries for conservation, and took the idea for Snaketail Ale to Triple Crossing Brewing Company in Richmond, VA, and they loved it! This beer celebrates the St. Croix snaketail, a rare dragonfly known from the Richmond area, and commemorates the VNHP’s 30th anniversary. Snaketail Ale is a heavily dry-hopped session ale that can be found on tap at Triple Crossing Brewery, Richmond, Virginia. Cold 32oz “crowler” cans of Snaketail Ale can be purchased at the brewery's tasting room. Raise a glass and toast to conservation!

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

The Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) of Colorado State University is seeking a Conservation Planning Coordinator. The Coordinator will be part of a team that currently includes a Conservation Planner, a Conservation Ecologist, a GIS analyst/Landscape Ecologist, and the Team Leader/Ecologist. The Coordinator will work on existing Conservation Planning projects in addition to writing proposals for new or on-going work. Key duties and responsibilities include:

working with the Conservation Planning team and other Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) staff to identify and secure sources of funds, projects, and collaborative opportunities and participate in proposal development

incorporating best available science and biodiversity information into conservation action plans, partnership initiatives, and other planning and implementation efforts

working closely with CNHP staff to support programmatic data, communication, planning, and partnership building goals associated with the strategic plan